President Obama: "Their selflessness and courage inspire us all"

U.S. President Barack Obama presents Bill Sherlach and daughters Katy Sherlach and Maura Lynn Schwartz with the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, on behalf of their wife and mother Mary Sherlach in the East Room of the White House February 15, 2013 in Washington, DC. School psychologist Mary Sherlach was killed during a mass shooting that left 26 people dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. (February 14, 2013 - Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America)

President Barack Obama presents Donna and Carlos Soto Sr. with the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, on behalf of their daughter Victoria Soto in the East Room of the White House February 15, 2013 in Washington, DC. First grad teacher, Victoria Soto was killed during a mass shooting that left 26 people dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012.
(February 14, 2013 - Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America)

President Barack Obama presents Terri Rousseau and Gilles Rousseau; with the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, on behalf of their daughter Lauren Rousseau in the East Room of the White House February 15, 2013 in Washington, DC. First grade teacher Lauren Rousseau was killed during a mass shooting that left 26 people dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012.
(February 14, 2013 - Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America)

President Barack Obama presents Erica and Cheryl Lafferty with the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, on behalf of their mother and daughter Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung in the East Room of the White House February 15, 2013 in Washington, DC. Principal Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung was killed during a mass shooting that left 26 people dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012.
(February 14, 2013 - Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America)

President Barack Obama presents Mary and Sarah D'Avino with the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, on behalf of their sister and daughter, Rachel D'Avino in the East Room of the White House February 15, 2013 in Washington, DC. Rachel D'Avino, a behavioral therapist, was killed during a mass shooting that left 26 people dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012.
(February 14, 2013 - Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America)

"When Dawn Hochsprung, and Mary Sherlach, Vicki Soto, Lauren Rousseau, Rachel D’Avino, Anne Marie Murphy…showed up for work at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14th of last year, they expected a day like any other -- doing what was right for their kids; spent a chilly morning readying classrooms and welcoming young students -- they had no idea that evil was about to strike," he said. "And when it did, they could have taken shelter by themselves. They could have focused on their own safety, on their own wellbeing. But they didn’t. They gave their lives to protect the precious children in their care. They gave all they had for the most innocent and helpless among us."